IDF to distribute bulletproof gear to teachers in Israeli towns near the Gaza border

BREAKING: On the first day of the school year, the IDF will distribute dozens of bulletproof vests and helmets to teachers in Israeli towns near the Gaza border.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan is easing restrictions to obtain a permit for owning a gun.

The new law went into immediate effect on Monday and will allow hundreds of thousands of Israel Defense Forces infantry-unit veterans and active police officers to apply for gun permits.

According to the plan, any citizen with what as known as level 7 Rifleman training, as is the case with most infantry units in Israel, will be able to apply for a gun permit.

“Many citizens have saved lives during terror attacks, and in the era of ‘lone-wolf’ attacks, the more qualified gun-carrying citizens there are, the better the chance to stop terror attacks without casualties and reduce the number of casualties,” Erdan said in a statement.

There are approximately 145,000 gun-license holders in Israel at present. This number does not include people who have firearms because their job requires it, and does not include soldiers and police. Gun licenses must be renewed every three years.

At present, a person must be at least 21 years of age and in good health to apply for a permit. Other conditions include residence in Judea and Samaria, a border area or an area near a security fence.